Barrier device

ABSTRACT

A barrier device for applying a surgical cloth adjacent to the location on a patient&#39;s body where a surgical intervention is to be performed, the barrier device having an upper side of which a part is intended to abut against the underside of the surgical cloth. An underside is intended to abut against the patient&#39;s skin. The barrier device has a front edge and a rear edge near and at a distance from, respectively, the location on the patient&#39;s body where the surgical intervention is to be performed. The barrier device is on its underside at the front edge provided with a first adhesive portion, and on its upper side provided with a protruding, elongate and flexible fastening flap which on the side facing the rear edge is provided with a second adhesive portion for adhesion to the surgical cloth.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a barrier device for applying asurgical cloth adjacent to the location on a patient's body where asurgical intervention is to be performed, the barrier device having anupper side of which one part is intended to abut against the undersideof the surgical cloth, an underside intended to abut against thepatient's skin, and a front edge and a rear edge near and at a distancefrom, respectively, the location on the patient's body where thesurgical intervention is to be performed, and to a method forpre-operative preparation of a surgical cloth.

BACKGROUND ART

In connection with different types of surgical interventions it isalways important to prevent infections as far as possible, which can bemade in different ways. In the usual procedure, the surgical area on thepatient's body is first disinfected with alcohol or some otherdisinfectant. Subsequently, the patient is dressed in surgical clothsand sheets. Moreover, the operating personnel work in sterile overalls,protective masks and sterile gloves.

The surgical cloths having so-called barriers against contaminatingmaterial are today available in essentially two embodiments. One variantconsists of non-disposable material of polyester and/or cotton with anintermediate plastic sheeting barrier. The textile fabric serves as anabsorbent, while the plastic constitutes a fluid barrier. The surgicalcloth is attached to the patient's skin by detachable pieces of tape.One disadvantage of this variant is that it is difficult to see if thetape pieces are properly attached to the skin, which otherwise wouldresult in a risk of leakage. In addition, there is a risk of bacteria,viruses and other contaminants migrating, or even migrating back, fromthe surgical cloth and into the surgical area, i.e. the location on thepatient's body where the surgical intervention is to be performed.

The second and most frequent variant is disposable laminate consistingof non-woven and plastic sheeting having an edge fitted with tape. Thenon-woven material constitutes an absorbent, while the plastic serves asa barrier against contaminants. The disadvantages of this variant arethat it must be disposed of after having been used only once, that it isdifficult to see with the eye if the edge fitted with tape is properlyattached to the skin, that the non-woven material may have beendelaminated, that wet non-woven material may detach itself, for example,when gloves and sleeves are drawn to it and that it is difficult toattach surgical cloths overlapping one another since tape adheresunsatisfactorily to nonwoven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is thus to solve the above-mentionedproblems by providing an improved barrier device for surgical cloths.According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of abarrier device of the type stated by way of introduction and having thefeatures which will be evident from claim 1. Preferred embodiments arestated in the subclaims. The object is also achieved by a method forpre-operative preparation of a surgical cloth as claimed in claim 11.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the following, the invention will be further described in more detailwith reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a barrier device according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a surgical cloth provided with a barrier deviceaccording to the present invention attached to a patient's skin.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a barrier device according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, butalso other embodiments thereof, will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawing.

The expression “surgical cloth” used in the application text relates tothe absorbing textile fabric to which the barrier device according tothe present invention is intended to be attached.

As shown in FIG. 1, the barrier device 1 according to the presentinvention has on its underside 2 at its front edge 4 a first adhesiveportion 6. The first adhesive portion 6 is preferably covered by a firstrelease layer 7. On the upper side 3 of the barrier device 1 there isalso a longitudinal fastening flap 8 which on the side facing the rearedge 5 of the barrier device 1 has a second adhesive portion 9, whichpreferably is covered by a second release layer 10. The second adhesiveportion 9 constitutes the entire or part of the above-mentioned side ofthe fastening flap 8, preferably at least that part of the side inquestion which is found at the upper free end of the fastening flap 8,and runs in the longitudinal direction of the whole fastening flap 8.

In pre-operative preparation of a surgical cloth 11, it is placed on thepart of the upper side 3 of the barrier device 1 between the fasteningflap 8 and the rear edge 5. The second release layer 10 on the fasteningflap 8 is removed, after which the fastening flap 8 is folded over theedge of the surgical cloth 11. The fastening flap 8 is attached to thesurgical cloth 11 by means of the second adhesive portion 9.Consequently, a fluid-tight encapsulation of the edge of the surgicalcloth 11 is provided. This reduces the risk of bacteria, viruses andother contaminants being transported into the surgical area. Moreover,the exsudate (the fluid or the impurities coming from an operationwound) is stored farther away from the surgical area, which furtherreduces the risk of infection. The surgical cloth 11 provided with thebarrier device 1 is sterilised, preferably by curing with high-pressuresteam. When a surgical cloth 11 is to be applied on a patient, the firstrelease layer 7 is removed from the first adhesive portion 6, afterwhich the first adhesive portion 6 is accurately applied on thepatient's skin 12 in a fluid-tight manner as shown in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, the barrier device 1 has a size of about 1×1 m and ispreferably made of a flexible and liquid-tight plastic material whichcan resist curing with high-pressure steam at 134° C. and which does notlet through viruses and bacteria. A suitable material is coextrudedpolyethylene and polypropylene. The first adhesive portion 6 istransparent, which implies that it is easy to control that the surgicalcloth 11 is properly attached to the patient's skin 12, which has notbeen possible earlier when using existing products. Thus, unnecessarypressing with one's fingers on the patient to establish sealing isavoided. The first adhesive portion 6 is preferably made ofpolypropylene, polyester, polyurethane or some other liquid-tightmaterial and is provided with an adhesive composition, preferablypolyacrylate, that is kind to the skin. Advantageously, the firstadhesive portion 6 is also micro-embossed for eliminating undesirablereflections from localised work illumination in surgical operations. Thefastening flap 8 is made of a flexible material, e.g. polypropylene, andis preferably micro-embossed. The second adhesive portion 9 is providedwith an adhesive material that adheres well to fabrics. In a preferredembodiment, the fastening flap is about 5 cm high, but can also behigher or lower as long as it allows satisfactory adhesion to thesurgical cloth.

In an alternative embodiment, the fastening flap 8 is not provided witha second adhesive portion 9. Instead a separate piece of tape is used toattach the fastening flap 8 to the surgical cloth 11.

In a preferred embodiment, the first adhesive portion 6 extends to awidth of about 5 cm seen from the front edge 4, but can also extendfurther in the direction of the rear edge 5 on the underside 2 of thebarrier device 1, even past the line along which the fastening flap 8runs. Furthermore, the first adhesive portion 6 extends in thelongitudinal direction parallel to and along the entire front edge 4.Thus, the front edge 4 can be sealingly attached to the patient's skinalong its whole length. Preferably, the fastening flap 8 runs parallelto the front edge 4, but can also be inclined relative to the same. Thefront edge 4 can be straight as well as bent, or shaped in some otherirregular way, as long as the first adhesive surface 6 can be attachedin a simple and sealing manner. The dimensions of the barrier devicecan, of course, be adapted to the size of the surgical cloth desirableto use, and to the appearance of the surgical area on the patient thatis to be delimited.

The first and the second release layers (7, 10) which before use of thebarrier device 1 according to the present invention preferably arepositioned on the first and the second adhesive portions (6, 9),respectively, are usually made of siliconised paper.

The thickness of the barrier device 1 including the fastening flap 8 isnot critical as long as the device and the parts thereof are flexibleenough in order to fulfil their purposes. Thus, it should be possible tocarry out the application on the patient smoothly, and to easily foldthe fastening flap 8 and attach it to the surgical cloth. Preferably,the barrier device 1 consists of a thin film.

The plasticised edge on the surgical cloth 11 also makes it easy toattach several overlapping surgical cloths 11 by means of an adhesivecomposition in such a manner that a completely tight square or rectangleis formed round the surgical area. The fact is that the first adhesiveportion 6 adheres most satisfactorily to the plastic upper side of thefolded and fixed fastening flap 8.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the plastic stripunder which the first adhesive portion is located can be cut throughwhen needed and, thus, constitute a so-called incision cloth in thecases when the surgical area turns out to be larger than estimated, i.e.larger than the delimited skin area.

After use the surgical cloth 11 can easily be separated from the barrierdevice 1, after which the barrier device 1 only is disposed of, forexample, by burning. Recycling is possible but not suitable due to therisk of infection. However, the surgical cloth 11 can be washed andreused.

Consequently, the present invention provides a resource-efficient butsafe barrier device 1 of disposable type for surgical cloths 11.

It should be pointed out that the above-described components of thebarrier device 1 can be made of other materials than those mentionedabove as long as the requirements for tightness, flexibility, reasonablemanufacturing cost and compatibility are fulfilled.

1. A barrier device (1) for applying a surgical cloth (11) adjacent tothe location on a patient's body where a surgical intervention is to beperformed, the barrier device (1) having an upper side (3) of which apart is intended to abut against the underside of the surgical cloth(11), an underside (2) intended to abut against the patient's skin (12),and a front edge (4) and a rear edge (5) near and at a distance from,respectively, the location on the patient's body where the surgicalintervention is to be performed, wherein the barrier device (1) on itsunderside (2) at the front edge (4) is provided with a first adhesiveportion (6), and that the barrier device (1) on its upper side (3) isprovided with a protruding, elongate arid, flexible fastening flap (8)which on the side facing the rear edge (5) is provided with a secondadhesive portion (9) for adhesion to the surgical cloth.
 2. A barrierdevice (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the firstadhesive portion (6) is transparent.
 3. A barrier device (1) as claimedin claim 2, wherein a first release layer (7) is applied on the firstadhesive portion (6) with the purpose of being removed before adhesionto the patient's skin (12).
 4. A barrier device (1) as claimed in claim3, wherein a second release layer (10) is applied on the second adhesiveportion (9) with the purpose of being removed before folding thefastening flap (8) for adhesion of the same to the surgical cloth (11).5. A barrier device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main part ismade of coextruded polyethylene and polypropylene.
 6. A barrier device(1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a second release layer (10) isapplied on the second adhesive portion (9) with the purpose of beingremoved before folding the fastening flap (8) for adhesion of the sameto the surgical cloth (11).
 7. A barrier device (1) as claimed in claim2, wherein the main part is made of coextruded polyethylene andpolypropylene.
 8. A barrier device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein afirst release layer (7) is applied on the first adhesive portion (6)with the purpose of being removed before adhesion to the patient's skin(12).
 9. A barrier device (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein a secondrelease layer (10) is applied on the second adhesive portion (9) withthe purpose of being removed before folding the fastening flap (8) foradhesion of the same to the surgical cloth (11).
 10. A barrier device(1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the main part is made of coextrudedpolyethylene and polypropylene.
 11. A barrier device (1) as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a second release layer (10) is applied on the secondadhesive portion (9) with the purpose of being removed before foldingthe fastening flap (8) for adhesion of the same to the surgical cloth(11).
 12. A barrier device (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mainpart is made of coextruded polyethylene and polypropylene.
 13. A barrierdevice (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main part is made ofcoextruded polyethylene and polypropylene.
 14. A barrier device (1) asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second adhesive portions(6, 9) are made of polypropylene, polyurethane or polyester.
 15. Abarrier device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and thesecond release layers (7, 10) are made of siliconised paper.
 16. Abarrier device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening flap (8)extends essentially parallel to the front edge (4).
 17. A barrier device(1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear edge (5), the fastening flap(8) and the front edge (4) run parallel.
 18. A barrier device (1) asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a surgical cloth (11) abuts against a partof the upper side (3) and is tightly attached to the fastening flap (8)via the second adhesion portion (9) of the fastening flap (8).
 19. Amethod for pre-operative preparation of a surgical cloth (11),comprising the steps of placing a surgical cloth (11) in such a mannerthat its underside abuts against a part of the upper side (3) of abarrier device as claimed in claim 1, uncovering the second adhesiveportion (9) of the fastening flap (8) and folding the fastening flap (8)in such a manner that the second adhesive portion (9) covers the frontedge of the surgical cloth (11) so that a tight seal is obtained.
 20. Amethod as claimed in claim 19, wherein it further comprisessterilisation of the surgical cloth (11) provided with the barrierdevice (1) and adhesion of the same to the patient's skin (12).